The BEST episodes of GameCenter CX season 9
Every episode of GameCenter CX season 9, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of GameCenter CX season 9!
GameCenter CX (domestically imported as Retro Game Master) is a Japanese television series where Shinya Arino, a member of comedy duo Yoiko, plays Japan's most popular classic video games and records his progress. From shooters (his worst genre) to puzzles (his best) and anything in between, Arino tackles an amazing variety of games. He is supported by his Assistant Directors (ADs) and staff, who offer moral support, tips and tricks, and occasionally take the controller and play themselves. He also gets the chance to interview game designers and to visit arcades all over Japan.
#1 - The Kacho Goes to the Cannes Film Festival
Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/2/2008
First there was South Korea, now the Chief is hitting the red carpet at the Cannes film festival to sell the show at the international film and TV market. It's not all business however as Arino visits a number of local stores and arcades. At one particular store Arino looks at their selection of Japanese games before blowing the mind of the owner with a little surprise. When they hit a local arcade, Arino and Tojima get the thrill of their lives in a full body roller coaster experience. Even with all of this we're introduced to a new segment for season 9, the Famicom Mange Café, which will focus on comic series devoted to video games. This first segment shines a light on one of the better known series of this type, Famicom Rocky.
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#2 - Sonic the Hedgehog
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/25/2008
The time has finally come for Arino to challenge Sega's blue blur when he takes on the first entry in the classic series, Sonic The Hedgehog. Unfortunately for him, Sonic won't have his buddy Tails until the sequel so he'll be flying solo on this one. This episode also brings us a special report from a Game Center CX museum exhibit which featured playable games, merchandise and memorabilia from the show. There were even a few stages acts including gaming themed comedy and a screening of a TamaGe starring Tojima. There's also a quick segment showing the Yamanote train line emblazoned with advertising for the new DVD box set.
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#3 - The Kacho Returns (Super Mario Bros. & Dr. Mario)
Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/16/2008
The date is July 7th and Arino is returning to work at Game Center CX for the first time in a month. He's been out of commission due to an issue with his lungs and since he is still recovering the staff have decided to take it easy on him. This episode will feature two smaller challenges against Super Mario Bros. as well as Dr. Mario and also feature some show highlights from recent memory. Don't fret though as we've also got a new Famicom Mange Café where Arino reads Famicom Soldier Of Fortune, a series about a boy who dreams of becoming a game programmer. We also have a TamaGe where Arino visits a very quaint neighborhood store with a classic mechanical game outside and a variety of classic sweets inside. It's another TamaGe location clearly adored by the local kids who even get to enjoy a little gaming time with Arino afterwards.
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#4 - Dragon Slayer IV (Legacy of the Wizard)
Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/17/2008
It's a family affair when Arino takes on Legacy Of The Wizard which was actually the fourth game in the Dragon Slayer series of games. This one features a family of adventurers with unique abilities that Arino will have to juggle if he wants to see the ending. Fuji TV recently had another outdoor event and as usual Game Center CX featured heavily. The highlight of the show was the reveal of a special Game Center CX themed version of Space Invaders. Sadly this episode will be the last visit to the Famicom Manga Café. Famicom Wolf is the featured series this time and follows a protagonist who was raised by Wolves and who can call on their spirit to assist him with his gaming. It was five months ago that the Xevious Observation Diary experiment was enclosed in a box and left to run unattended. AD Nakayama reveals the ultimate fate of the experiment.
#5 - Abarenbou Tengu (Zombie Nation)
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/30/2008
After a couple of out of the ordinary episodes Arino is back with a traditional challenge of an untraditional game. It's the shooter Zombie Nation, a game in which the player controls a disembodied head as it travels the United States and fights a number of icons from American culture. It's exactly as crazy as it sounds. Arino gets to enjoy the hospitality of a store owner who goes above and beyond when he visits their business in today's TamaGe. But when he's not being treated like a king he's playing games and attempting to win prizes of questionable quality. In the latest instalment of Famicom Mange Café Arino checks out Famicom Cap which focuses on our eponymous hero who partakes in high intensity video game battles.
#6 - Madoola no Tsubasa (The Wing Of Madoola)
Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/3/2008
Not since Clock Tower has Arino played as a girl in a challenge game before, but this season we have The Madoola no Tsubasa, starring the female knight Lucia. Can Arino help her get through 16 stages and help recover the stolen Wing? Arino stops by the wordy Game Corner Station-Front Center to check out some of the many fighting and shmup games they have on offer. He's immediately drawn to the graphically impressive Tekken 6 but soon moves onto some Bomberman before trying to survive a bullet hell shooter. In the Famicom Mange Café Arino reads from the bizarrely named Cyberbrain Boy. It features a story we can all relate to, a boy who struggles with school work but is a savant when it comes to video games.